“I make my family wear headlamps and turn on the heat just once a week”: The extreme measures one father takes to fight soaring energy bills

Redatto da Emily

9 November 2025

When the cost of living bites, some families grit their teeth—others break out the headlamps. In a corner of North London, one determined father is proving that when it comes to taming the energy bill beast, there are no half measures—even if it means plunging the family home into darkness and putting modern comfort on ice (quite literally).

From Price Shock to Spartan Living

Barnet, a suburb in North London, might seem an unlikely setting for an experiment in 18th-century energy frugality. Yet, for 53-year-old Chavdar Todorov, originally from Bulgaria, life has recently become a crash course in what can best be described as “hardcore savings mode.” The trigger? A single, heavy-hitting bill: 371 euros. That, plus a doubling (in his view) of electricity tariffs, was enough to send the Todorov family in search of radical solutions.

Before you envision a house lit by the soft glow of cozy lamps, think again. In the evenings, the family doesn’t so much dim the lights as banish them outright. The ceiling lights go off. Each member grabs a headlamp—essential equipment for reading, making dinner, or simply moving from one (dark) room to another. One could call it a throwback to gentler times, if not for the mixed reactions inside the household.

Strict Rules—And Some Family Grit

Chavdar lives with his wife, Moda, and their two children, Teo (14) and Nicole (20). The new rules are clear—almost military. Overhead lights? Off. Heating? Only once a week. On cold evenings, the radiator remains cold as stone, an exception to be earned, not an entitlement. “It’s like we’re back in the 18th century,” Chavdar wryly observes, pointing out that with so much uncertainty about future bills, they’re doing everything within reason (and perhaps a bit beyond) to keep costs down. “Every kilowatt counts when your budget doesn’t stretch any further.”

Television, once a member of the evening routine, is now a rare treat. “We’ve cut back on TV use and only turn it on from time to time,” Chavdar admits. The hope is, by sacrificing these small pleasures, they’ll escape another wallet-emptying winter when 2025 rolls around.

To keep warm six days out of seven, the family has mastered the art of the layer:

Cuddling under thick blankets
Throwing on extra coats indoors
Doubling up on socks and anything remotely fluffy

Comfort, they hope, will be the only thing dropping alongside their electricity bill.

Morale, Mood, and Candlelit Nights

But all this frugality doesn’t come without its costs, and they’re not just monetary. For Moda, optimism is in short supply. “We’re trying to stay positive but it’s difficult,” she confides. “I don’t turn the heating on if I’m alone at home—I just keep my jacket on.” It’s a daily grind, living with the thermostat steadfastly stuck on low.

Comfort isn’t the only sacrifice. As night falls and the apartment sinks into semi-darkness, there’s another challenge: the family’s sense of security. “We turn off the lights and use our headlamps, but it’s scary, and I don’t feel as safe,” Moda admits. The area has seen its share of burglaries. So, on those evenings, out come the candles—for both a sense of peace and a touch of enforced romance. When a candle’s flicker is safer (and cheaper!) than a ceiling lamp, you’re saving euros wherever you can.

The Tightrope Walk: Bills, Security, and Hope

For Chavdar, everything changed after that daunting 371-euro bill. “We felt trapped,” he says. The decision to go headlamps-only and ration the radiator wasn’t a quirk but a necessity, a response to relentless inflation and the steady drumbeat of rate hikes. The family has installed routines as steely as the winter to come—habits designed to get them through, even if nerves do get a little frayed.

Everyone adapts in their own way. Teo pores over his schoolwork by the narrow beam of a headlamp. Nicole finds solace in shorter evenings. Moda, always practical, lays bare the core dilemma: “We need to lower the electricity bill, but not at the expense of our safety or peace of mind.” For now, they’re all holding out, wondering just how much difference their grim regime will make when the next bill lands.

Yet, there’s one quiet worry that lingers. “I hope this isn’t something we’ll have to keep doing,” Moda says, her voice low. Behind the strict routines and cheerless economy, there’s a hope for a kinder winter—and maybe, finally, a bill that stops its relentless climb.

If you’re contemplating your own energy-saving strategies this winter, perhaps you’ll borrow a page from the Todorov playbook—just be sure to stock up on headlamps (and patience) before cold weather sets in.

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Emily

I'm Emily, a passionate gardener and nature enthusiast with a deep love for transforming outdoor spaces into tranquil retreats. My journey into the world of gardening began as a personal hobby and has grown into a commitment to sharing my insights and experiences through this blog. At cheneylawncare.com, i delve into the art of landscaping, offering practical tips and guidance to help your garden thrive. I believe that every green space has a unique story to tell, and I'm here to inspire you to create your own natural haven. Join me in exploring the latest gardening trends and enriching your knowledge, as together we cultivate beauty and serenity in our lives.